Cummins signs agreement with ANSYS ANSYS (ANSS) announced that Cummins (CMI) has signed a new agreement providing it with broad access to the ANSYS portfolio. This enterprise license agreement will enable Cummins to continue to solve some of the industry's most challenging multiphysics problems – providing its customers with some of the most innovative products on the market. The multi-year agreement provides Cummins with enterprise-wide licenses to the ANSYS structures, fluids and high-frequency electromagnetics suites as well as access to high-performance computing solutions. Cummins will also receive enhanced support and services as well as unlimited classroom and online training. The new agreement complements the Cummins Analysis Led Design initiative, which emphasizes simulation early in the product design process, when it is more cost-efficient to make changes.

Aerospace sector downgraded to Neutral from Attractive at GoldmanGoldman downgraded the Aerospace sector to Neutral based on group outperformance and increased downside risks. The firm believes Boeing (BA) and Airbus are now oversupplying the market after a decade of undersupply and replacement demand required to sustain production may prove difficult to achieve. Goldman said accelerated new aircraft replacements was partially due to fuel economics and lower fuel prices and global growth volatility could substantially change Aerospace dynamics. As part of the sector view change, Goldman downgraded Boeing to Sell from Neutral and Precision Castparts (PCP) to Natural from Buy.

Canada introduces legislation to enhance crude-by-rail safety, accountability The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, introduced legislation in the House of Commons that will enhance railway safety and make the rail industry and crude oil shippers more accountable to Canadians. The new Safe and Accountable Rail Act proposes amendments to the Canada Transportation Act and Railway Safety Act. Changes include a new liability and compensation regime for federally regulated railways, including minimum insurance requirements; a compensation fund financed by levies on crude oil shippers; increased information-sharing provisions; and stronger oversight powers for the Minister and Transport Canada inspectors. The new liability and compensation regime will be consistent with those the Government has introduced for other modes of transport, such as marine tankers and oil pipelines. It is based on the “polluter pays” principle and makes railways and shippers responsible for the cost of accidents, protecting taxpayers and communities by ensuring that adequate resources are available for compensation if an accident were to occur. Proposed amendments to the Railway Safety Act will broaden the powers of the Minister and inspectors to order railway companies and others to take specified measures or stop any activity deemed necessary for safe railway operations. The proposed amendments will also create new regulation- making powers requiring railway companies to share information with municipalities. These changes are part of the Government’s commitment to strengthen oversight and increase collaboration between communities and the rail industry, addressing issues raised in the Transportation Safety Board’s final report on the Lac-Mégantic derailment as well as concerns of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Publicly traded companies in the space include CSX (CSX), Canadian National (CNI), Canadian Pacific (CP), Genesee & Wyoming (GWR), Kansas City Southern (KSU), Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Union Pacific (UNP). Reference Link

Citigroup sees truck carrier stocks poised to outperformWith the U.S. economy growing quickly, the stocks of truck carriers are likely to outperform the S&P 500, Citigroup believes. WHAT'S NEW: Truck transportation prices and truck carrier stocks "respond most directly to economic growth," Citigroup analyst Christian Wetherbee wrote in a note to investors today. After carriers' truckload rates rose 4% last year, the rates should rise by a similar amount this year, Wetherbee predicted. Economic growth, along with the difficulties the carriers are experiencing with recruiting drivers, should be supportive of additional rate increases, the analyst stated. Wetherbee warned that the stocks of truck builders usually underperform during periods such as the current one, when a large amounts of U.S. class 8 trucks are being built. Consequently, truck carrier stocks present investors with an opportunity, while investors should be cautious on truck builders and parts suppliers, he wrote. Among truck carriers, Swift (SWFT) is particularly attractive, since it has underperformed its peers over the last year, Wetherbee stated. Additionally, the company's results appear likely to at least meet consensus estimates, the analyst predicted. He also kept a Buy rating on another truck carrier, Knight Transportation (KNX) and maintained a Buy rating on Cummins (CMI), which builds truck engines. The analyst kept a Hold rating on truck builder PACCAR (PCAR). OTHERS TO WATCH: Navistar (NAV) builds trucks and Celadon (CGI) is another truck carrier. PRICE ACTION: In early afternoon trading, Swift rose 1%, Knight Transportation gained 1.3%, Cummins added 0.7%, and PACCAR lost 0.5%.

Trucking stocks likely to outperform S&P 500, says CitigroupCitigroup says its work indicates trucking stocks respond most directly to economic growth. With the economy on a growth trajectory, Citi expects trucking stocks are likely to outperform the S&P 500. The firm reiterates Buy ratings on Swift Transportation (SWFT) and Knight Transportation (KNX), with a preference for Swift. It also has a Buy rating on Cummins (CMI) and Neutral on PACCAR (PCAR).

Spirit AeroSystems likely to collect some funds from Gulfstream,says Wells FargoAfter Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) disclosed in a February 13 regulatory filing that it had settled its dispute with General Dynamics' (GD) Gulfstream unit with respect to amounts due on G650 deliveries from 2010 through Q3 2013, Wells Fargo expects Spirit to collect some of the $135M that it held n retainage in accounts receivable for Gulfstream underpayments as of the end of last year. The firm says it cannot estimate the amount that Spirit will collect. It keeps an Outperform rating on Spirit.